"Thank God I Did School in SA": Zimbabwe June O-Level Maths Exam Paper Leaves South Africans Stunned

• A TikTok video showing someone solving a ZIMSEC O Level Maths Paper 1 from June 2026 went viral among South African viewers
• The exam questions on significant figures and binary conversions left many South Africans convinced Zimbabwean maths was on another level
• South Africans flooded the comments admitting they would have struggled badly in the Zimbabwean school system

A video of a man working through a Zimbabwe School Examinations Council O Level Mathematics paper sent South Africans into a spin on TikTok in July 2026. O Level is the equivalent of grades 10 and 11 in South Africa. TikTok creator @valentinesherekete posted the clip solving problems from a ZIMSEC O Level Maths Paper 1 dated June 2026.

The footage was filmed overhead on a wooden desk, giving viewers a clear look at every step as the person worked through questions. What started as a straightforward exam tutorial quickly became a cross-border conversation about just how different the two countries' school systems really are.

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Zimbabwe vs SA Maths debate

For many South Africans in the comments, the content was eye-opening. The types of questions on the paper had viewers questioning whether they could have kept up in a Zimbabwean classroom.

The creator appeared to be using the video to help Zimbabwean students prepare for their exams, while also building towards a milestone of 50,000 followers with promises of live tutoring sessions.

Watch the ZIMSEC maths tutorial that sparked the debate: TikTok clip by @valentinesherekete below:

Mzansi reacts to Zimbabwe's curriculum

South Africans in the comments section on @valentinesherekete's TikTok could not hide their shock. The exchange captured a light-hearted but genuine curiosity about what students on either side of the Limpopo River go through in the classroom. Read the comments below:

@nkosi7 said:

"Thank god I did school in SA. Zim maths would have killed me. What the heck is a significant figure? 😭😭"

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@Gaffa Girl🙈 wrote:

"How did I get here 😳 musandidzose please"

Nyenarr_wachor asked:

"What are they teaching you in SA?"

nkosi7 replied:

"Definitely not significant figures."

Other Briefly News stories about Zimbabwe and South Africa

• A South African woman shared her heartwarming journey to Zimbabwe for a family wedding, documenting her experiences through engaging TikTok videos.
• The inspiring efforts of a Zimbabwean couple who took it upon themselves to support fellow countrymen in dire need at the Epping Refugee Reception Centre in Cape Town.
• A South African truck driver’s TikTok video showcased his walk through Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, challenging longstanding stereotypes about the country.

Source: Briefly News